The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-05
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL-TUEsDAY. JULY g. 1857
A GREAT HOUSE BIIhTEDI
BY THE GHOST OF THE CON.
TRACTOR WHO BUILT 1T,
Who Was Ruined by the Contract
His Appearance TO Mrs.
Stewart.


mansion, or rsther palace, situated a,
the corner oil nth avenue and Thirty.
fourth street.. 1t has the name of un,
canDy associations, but beycn' that
the real story Of it's Rhostly occupants
has been successfully kept quiet. A
servant Of the ate Mrs. Stewart tells
the following story, which 10 80 re-.
markable thai your correspondent, Ia
whom II was told with bated breath,
feeling It will prove Of interest TO the
Globe. DtmOcra! readers, here gives /,
for what IL, as coming from a servant,
is worth. The servant is respectable
person, whose ysrscity may bs relied
on. She says she saw some of the
events spoken OF with her own ewes
Several years ago, few nights before
the body OF A. 7. Stewart was taken
from lie grave, Mrs Ste wsrt was sitting
alone In her boudoir. II was late al
night. She was waiting the return OF
her niece, Miss Smith. who was
lime. She had dismissed her her
attendants, and was prepared
to retire as soon as her niece should
return from an evening entertainment.
The light was turned low, as Mrs.
Stewart was always economical, and
was saving gas. 10 large uphol.
stored chair, looking into the shadows
that played about the elaborate for.
nishipR d the apartment, sat Mrs.
Stewart. She wss indn'ging la one OF
those reyerles, evidently, that are
common to all aged persons. Sud.
denly a cracking like the movement
ola door, and afterward several firm
footballs, attracted her attention,
She did not srife or look around Al
once, az she WAS expecting her niece
and thought the persons who ba1
entered certainly must be & a. youDs
lady. A lew minutes passed aud, AZ
there was no further sound, Mira
Stewart arose ire m her chair and looked
around toward the door. A few
steps from the door stood man, rather
tail, but 30 In the shadow tina, shs
could not see bis features plainly. She
at once thought that he must be one
OF her servants and was about 10 re
prove him for intrudiag, when hs
moved toward her. Then she sppre.
ciated that he was no earthly yisilant
Tor, as he passed n mirror, she could
distinctly see the reflection Of herself
and the light through his body. When
within few feet Of her he stood
sill pointed several times
with his arms toward the
south, and seemed 30 be trying by
signs TO communicate eomethipg
Then he folded his arms and looked
at her. She dropped ON a sofa utter.
ly terrified and unconscious. Mean.
while her niece entered and ionnd
her IN this condition, the ghostly yisi.
tant having dieappeaie ell without being
observed by Miss Smith, who, when
she heard the story, was inclined Ia
think OF robbers Some II the servants
were called and told about the matter.
Diligent search was made Of the whole
house, but no trace Of the intruder
discovered. When q few DAYS after
this occurrence the grave Of Mr..
Stewart was robbed, Mrs. y, though
not q superslilious woman, naturally
felt that the ghostly visitor had come
10 warn her OF the coming event,
since that time queer noises have con.
SANITY been heard within the walls OF
the Stewart palace. Footsteps In the
sp.end d art gallery, clanklng as OF
towels and chisels, as though q gang
OF masons were nj work on the grand
marble wAllF, was one OF the most no.
iiceable sounds. At frat Mrs. s. be.
came very nervous from the occur.
renee Of lheee eounds so'peruistently,
but at lotglh became accustomed
TO them. Great paine were
laken TO keep the matter
silent, az Il was Jared
that the value OF the houss would be
compromised by q ghostly reputation
but In select circles people looked
knowingly at each oher when tn,
Stewart mansion was mentioned
Alter Mrs Stewards death none Of the
heirs would live Ia the white marbs
palace, not even Judge II ltoB, who's,
nerves can scarcely be affected easily
The executors tried 90 SILL the proper
" 10 the New York Club, aud wer,
willing 10 take lar leas than H. value
but TOT some reAeon regulations yer,
suddenly broken of, and since nolhin,
has been done la regard 10 the most
splendid private mantion on earth
Perhaps the club men hoa 4 the ghost
story. The servant who narrated IN,
above story said that the Stewart fam
lily, or Mrs Stewar at least, wer,
aware who the ghost was. Tue fol.
lowing iacts pointed 10 the indiyidu
atty OF the person: Nf. Stewart, a
Ia well known, made n contract for th,
material OF which the house is bull
just before the war. The contract III
pased on the prices prevailing at th,
time. When the war came IN,
price oil labor arose, and Il wa
i!npossible for the contractor Il
ill his contract without ruiz
TO himself and family. lie went Il
Mr.. \ ewart, stated these facts, an,
aal cd 10 have the contract annulle,
and new one substituted. Mr.. Stew
art refused 10 show him any mercy
and the house was therefore built q
the contractors ruin. Soon after II
completion the poor fellow died
leaving Ills family destltu'e. In thi
dilemma bis wife went 10 Mr.. Stewai
and asked q small return for tn
money Der huiband had lost In build
ing his house. She wanted 5000 II
said, or less than one hours yane 0
Mr.. sttwArts Income, but the latte
REUSED, saying, "Your hush nd mad
the contract and be had 10 fulfill 10.
After this she IL said 90 have appeale,
10 Mrs. Stewart, who referred he
back TO Mr.. Stewart She once NOR
Gallo on the latter, but with liz
result Then she cursed him, an
swoIe 6he would haunt his nous
when ste died, aud that he neyt
Ahoud have any health while In Il
Strangely enough her prophecy prove
true, be never had any good healt
from that day until BIZ death, 40
was ways ailina while living In Oh
marble palace. The ghost seen b
MIS-. stewart Ia said 30 have been thl
OF the contractor.
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